Markus Rühl - Is Urs moving to heavyweight in Open Bodybuilding?

MarkusRuehl

This video has been trending in Austria, and Germany

In the conversation, Markus Rühl discusses in detail whether German Classic Physique star Urs Kalecinski could—or perhaps even should—move up to the Open division in the long run. The starting point is the fact that, for his height, Urs has almost maxed out the Classic weight limit and already gets significantly heavier in the off-season. Rühl explains that further high-quality muscle growth—especially in the back, shoulders, and legs—will soon no longer be rule-compliant in Classic Physique, whereas Open bodybuilding offers unlimited potential for development.

Rühl clarifies the differences between the two divisions: in Classic Physique, aesthetics, a tight waist, and classic lines take center stage, while in the heavyweight class, additional mass, density, and sheer stage presence are decisive. However, he emphasizes that Urs’s symmetry and V-taper could also stand out on an Open stage—comparable to past aesthetic heavyweights like Flex Wheeler. At the same time, he notes that to seriously compete for the top spots at Mr. Olympia, Urs would need to add roughly 10–15 kilograms of contest weight.

Drawing on his own career experience, Rühl outlines the time and health challenges such a leap entails: steady muscle growth over several years, adjusted nutrition, targeted use of performance-enhancing substances, and, above all, the ability to handle the extra weight without overtaxing the joints. He cautions that a rapid switch without a solid foundation would be counterproductive, yet praises Urs’s discipline and professionalism as ideal preconditions for a long-term plan.

Later in the discussion, Rühl analyzes current contests such as the Chicago Pro and the Texas Pro, compares the level of international competition, and evaluates the chances of other German athletes. It becomes clear that the market value of a Classic Physique champion has become enormous, making it economically attractive to remain in that division. Nevertheless, Rühl sees the possibility that after achieving all his Classic goals, Urs could transition to the heavyweight class in a few years to avoid limiting his physical development.

Rühl concludes that timing will be crucial: as long as Urs can still make incremental improvements under Classic rules, he should leverage his dominance there and aim for the Olympia title. Only when the weight limit clearly restricts his progress will it make sense to prepare strategically for the Open class. For fans, this means they can look forward in the medium term to both more Classic highlights and a potentially spectacular Open debut

Share Video

¿Do you like Markus Rühl - Is Urs moving to heavyweight in Open Bodybuilding?? Share it with your people...

Playlist